Rutland puts fire chief on leave

Rutland Fire Chief Thomas Ruchala was placed on paid administrative leave by selectmen Monday night amid a allegations that he altered the inspection certificate of the wheelchair lift in the town public safety building.

The board acted after meeting with Ruchala for 20 minutes in closed session.

Board Chairman Joseph Becker said they would not be completing a six-month review of goals and objectives with Ruchala, as had been scheduled Monday, because of the decision to place the long-time chief on leave.

“The board will be holding a hearing on Feb. 28,” Becker said to discuss the investigation.

The closed meeting was held after an article was published in the Telegram & Gazette over the weekend on a report by the state Department of Public Safety regarding the alteration of the inspection certificate.

Ruchala was investigated in 2011 by the DPS, the state agency responsible for inspecting elevators, after he was accused of altering the certificate. Becker said the selectmen were aware of the investigation but postponed this meeting until after the conclusion of the DPS investigation.

“It was an open investigation without a conclusion at the time,” Becker said.

Ruchala has served the town for more than 30 years as fire chief, including years as a part-time chief.

After the report was completed by the DPS, it was sent to the attorney general’s office for review. The Department of Public Safety will decide its next course of action soon, according to Terrel Harris, communications director for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

“Last October, the AG’s office decided it would not prosecute, suggesting the case was more appropriate for a DA or some form of administrative or employment action,”Harris wrote in response to questions from The Landmark. The executive office oversees the Department of Public Safety.

The Department of Public Safety does not have jurisdiction over employment matters, which are the responsibility of the town. The law requires the owner of the elevator to set up the inspection and to have a representative present during the inspection.

“DPS maintains a record for every elevator in the state, which indicates when the last inspection occurred and what if any problems were found,” Harris stated. “But state law requires owners to make inspection appointments. That is to accommodate owners or their representatives who must be present when inspections are done.’’